Artist&#39;s color-box and easel.



L. E. KUHRT.

ARTISTS COLOR BOX AND EASEL.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1912.

1,065,255. Patented June 17, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

WITNESSES IN [/5 N TOR \hx ATTORNEYS cuLummA DLANOGRAPH C0-. WASHINGTON. u. C.

L; E. KUHRI. ARTISTS COLOR BOX AND EASEL. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1912.

1,065,255, Patented June 17,1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES fi W M ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH CO.,WASHINGTON, D. c.

INVENTOR UNITED STATE8 PATENT @FFTQE.

LEON EIVIIL KUHRT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ARTISTS COLOR-BOX AND EASEL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEON E. KUHRT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Artists Color-Box and Easel, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: to provide a box for carrying artists-materials, which has means for being mounted on supporting legs in position to hold a sketch panel, pad, or other device; to provide means for locking the box in adjusted position; to provide means connected with the box for holding a canvas in desired working position; to provide a box of the character set forth, one side whereof forms a holding-tray for tubes and tools used in sketching; and to provide means for packing the box and parts connected therewith to form a small and convenient bundle.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a pictorial view in perspective, of a color-box and easel constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same, shown as packed for carrying; Fig. 3 is a. longitudinal cross section of the box when closed; Fig. 41 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, in perspective, showing fragments of the steadying members and a corner of the tray resting thereon; Fig. 5 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of the steadying mast and slide mounted thereon for holding in upright pose a sketch canvas when one is employed too large to fit within the color-box; Fig. 6 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, showing fragments of the collapsible legs of which the tripod is constructed; Fig. '7 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, showing in perspective the upper end fragment of one of the sliding sections of the tripod and means for holding the same in position; Fig. 8 is a detail view in perspective, showing fragments of one of the legs of the tripod, the bottom of the Specification of Letters Iatcnt.

Application filed September 30, 1912.

Patented June 17, 1913.

Serial No. 723,094.

color box, and the lower end of the steadying mast for a large canvas; and Fig. 9 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, showing a fragment of the steadying mast and the top of the color box when mounted thereon.

As seen in the accompanying drawings, the c0lor-box is provided with a rectangular frame, having a full-width bottom rail 15, sides 16, and a narrow top rail 17. The full top side is formed by the top rail 17 and anarrow hinged door 18. The door 18 is secured by hinges 19 to the rail 17. The door 18, when shut, closes sidegrooves 20 with which the sides 16 of the box are provided. The grooves 20 are designed to hold sketch panels or pads, which are inserted in the grooves by lifting the door 18 and dropping the panels or pads downward in said grooves to rest upon the bottom rail 15.

The frame is divided vertically and longitudinally by a partition 21. Vithin the frame, the compartment on that side of the partition 21 in which the panels or pad are carried is not closed except by the drop of the door 18 over the grooves 20, the back of the panels or pads serving to effectively cover or close this portion of the box.

Vithin the box, on the opposite side of the partition, is disposed the color-tray 22. The tray 22 is sub-divided by suitable partitions to form compartments for holding tubes, brushes, and other tools. The bottom of the tray 22 is provided with an edge extended flange 23, which overlies the edge of the rails 15 and 17 and the sides 16 to effectually close one side of the box. The sides 24 of the tray 22 areformed to hold the artists palette 25. The palette 25 is held in position on the tray 22 in the box by side cleats 26. When the tray is properly disposed within the box, the palette 25 is secured between the edge of the sides 24 of said tray, and the cleats 26.

To hold the tray 22 in position in the box, I provide swivel hooks 27 rotatively mounted in the opposite sides 16. The said hooks have an extension from the edge thereof the thickness of the flanges 23. The flanges 23 are cut to form slots 28 adapted to pass the turned ends of the hooks 27 so that the same may be entered therethrough when the hook ends are disposed lengthwise of the slots and extend over the outside of the flange when said hooks are disposed transverse said slots. The swivel hooks 2? are of conventional design, and may be substituted. by any suitable form of wing nuts, T-headed pins, or other suitable fastening devices.

When in. service, it is preferred that the tray 22 should be removed from the frame formed by the rails 15 and 17 and sides 16, and the frame, thus relieved of the tray, is mounted upon collapsible legs 2%, 29 and 30. The legs 29, 29 resemble each other, in that each has at the upper end a beveled surface 31. As seen best. in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the angle at which the beveled surface is setfrom the straight side of the leg regulates the spread of the bottoms or feet of the legs 29.

liirounted upon the end sections of the legs 29 are perfo ated plates The perforations in the plates 32 are provided to receive screws which are provided with wing heads 3 1. To receive the threaded ends of the screws 33, the sides 16 of the box frame are provided with perforations 35, which are internally threaded to register with the threads of said screws.

It will be understood that though in the drawings 1 have not shown a metal bushing for the perforations 35, this may be readily n'ovided. ll here desired, the cleats 26 may be constructed of metal, and the perforations be extended therethrough and tapped to register with the threads of said screws.

The third, leg 30 of the tripod is provided at the upper end with a swinging clip 36, see Fig. 8 of the drawings. The clip 36 is pivotally mounted by a pin 37 to the leg 30, and is provided with a threaded screw 38 to register with the threads of a perforation (35 opening from the bottom of the rail 15 of the box frame. To adjust the leg 30 to the box frame, said leg is rotated when the perforation 38 is adjusted to the screw 65 to lit the said clip upward against the bottom of the rail 15, as seen best in Fig. 1 of the dra *ings. The legs 29, 29 and 30 are each provided with guide loops 39 and tO. The lower extensions of said legs are each provided with a longitudinally-disposed groove into which the end of a feather extends. The screws 412 are pivotally mounted in the loops 39, and extend through perforations provided in the upper section of said loops to bear upon the top of loose plates 41. It will now be seen that when the collapsible extensions of the legs 29 and 30 are properly adjusted, by turning up the screw 12, to press against the top of the plates d1, the sections of the legs are jammed against the guide loops 39 and atO, to be held substantially rigid thereby.

The legs 29 and structed of as li 'ht- 30 are preferably coninaterial as practicable.

To steady the structure when the legs are extended in service position, I provide steadying brace-rods 1;) and 414C. The rod 43 extends between the legs 29 and 29, and rests upon headed pins t3 extended outwardly from each of said lc s and from the upper section thereof; see Fig. 6 of the drawings. At one end the rod is pivoted to one of the legs 29; and the red 41 1 is likewise mounted on the leg 30. The legs 29, being laterally pressed against the sides 16 of the box frame and cross-braced by means of the rod 43, are thereby rendered sutliciently rigid for all purposes for which they are intended, as against sidewise vibration. To provide the tripod against vibration or yielding backward toward the leg 30, I connect the leg 30 and the brace-rod 43, by means of the brace-rod 14. To connect the two rods 43 and 4:4, the former is provided wit-h a slot 46 disposed midway the length of the brace-rod 4:3 and opening upward to receive the hook ll with which the rod 4.4- is provided at its end. The rod 4:4, as above noted, is pivoted at the opposite end by a pivot pin 18, which is mounted in the side of the leg 30, on the upper section thereof, see Fig. 8 of the drawings. It will be seen that when the rod d l is thus adjusted, the tripod arangement is relatively rigid.

To facilitate the artist in his operations and at the same time render the tripod structure more rigid, I dispose the tray 22 on the rods l3 and at; and lock the tray to the rods. For this purpose the flanges Q3 of the tray 22 are provided with edge-opening slots '28 to register with swivel pins 50 rotatively mounted on the upper edge of the rod 13. The rear of the tray 22 and of the flange 23 there disposed is provided with j a slot to receive a headed pin 51, which is extended upward from the rod a l, see Fig. 4iof the drawings.

hen introducing the tray 22 in position upon the rods 4-3 and l-ft, the 'tlange 23 is first extended under the head of the pin 51, and subsequently disposed over the ends of the pins 50. V hen the pins 50 are extended through the slots 28 in the flanges 23, the book ends of said pins are turned over said flanges, and the tray will be found locked in position upon the rods 43 and 44.

If the sketch desired is sutliciently small to be held within the box frame and in the grooves 20 thereof, the artist may roceed to I for which the box frame is provided, then the short supporting mast 52 is adjusted in position. To support the canvas, such as indicated by 53 in Fig. 1 of the drawings, I provide hook-ended pins 54:. The pins 54 are disposed optionally in the holes 66 with which the legs 29 are supplied.

The mast 52 is furnished with a hook pin \Vhen the hooked end of the pin 55 is dropped into the socket provided therefor, in the edge of the door 18, the screw 56 is exposed below the bottom rail 15 of the frame and in the path of a latch hook 57. The latch hook 57 is pivotally secured, by means of a pin 58, upon the bottom rail 15. Movably mounted on the mast 52 is a fiat hook 59 extended to rest above and to the outside of the canvas 58. The hook 59 is integrally formed upon or rigidly united with a slide 60 adjustable to various heights of canvas.

hen employing a canvas such as 58, it will be understood that the canvas may be tilted to the desired working angle by swinging the box frame on the screws 33 in the manner as above described; the tilting of the box frame as above described swings the mast 52 in a similar manner, thereby changing the vertical angle of the canvas resting on the hook pins 54.

hen the employment of the apparatus as an easel is determined, it is knocked down and packed for carriage; the legs 29 and 30, the rods 43 and 44, a mahl stick, umbrella, or other article of similar character, are folded together and secured upon the box frame by means of the strap segments 61 and 62. Both segments 61 are pivotally mounted on pins 63. As seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the strap segments 61 are so disposed that the pull on the strap is exerted on the sides 16 in a direction substantially parallel with the natural grain of the wood. By this means is avoided any ripping strain thereon. The segments 62 are mounted on the rail 15, and form the carriage loops for the bundle, substantially as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will be understood that when the apparatus is thus knocked down, the legs 29 and 30 are collapsed, the screws 42 being loosened to permit this action. It will also be understood that, preliminary to removing the legs 29 and 30 from engagement with the box frame, the tray 22 is disengaged from the rods 13 and 4A, and the said rods are disengaged from the said legs. When the legs have been disengaged from the box frame, the palette 25 is disposed in position to rest on the sides 24; of the tray, and the box frame is overturned upon the tray, the hooks 27 passing through the slots 28, to be overturned upon the back of the tray 22, to hold the same rigidly upon the box frame. If panels or pads have been used in making the sketch, these may be taken from the grooves 20 and reversed to dispose the wet side thereof inward. The door 18 is then dropped over the panels, and the bundle is then carried by the handle 6t.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An artists color box and easel, comprising a box frame; a plurality of collapsible legs for supporting said frame, each of said legs being provided with a screw for engagement with said frame, the screws in two of said legs engaging said frame at opposite sides thereof and co-axially to form a pivot for swinging said frame; a plurality of brace rods operatively connecting all of said legs; and a rigid rectangular member operatively connecting each of said rods to prevent relative movement thereof.

2. An artists color box and easel, comprising a box frame; a plurality of collapsible legs for supporting said frame, each of said legs being provided with a screw for engagement with said frame, the screws in two of said legs engaging said frame at opposite sides thereof and co-axially to form a pivot for swinging said frame; a plurality of brace rods operatively connecting all of said legs; and a color tray having means for operatively connecting said brace rods to prevent relative movement thereof.

3. An artists color box and easel, comprising a box frame; a supporting leg pivotally connected with said frame to extend behind the same; two side legs, each having an attaching screw adjacent the upper end thereof for securing said legs to the sides of said box frame, the attaching ends of said legs being beveled to flare said legs from the sides of said frame, said legs being constructed of a plurality of members slidable each on the other; clamps mounted on certain of said members to hold said members in adjusted position; a supporting mast removably mounted in vertical relation upon said frame; supporting pins adjustably mounted upon said side legs; and a hooklike member slidable on said mast to engage the top of a canvas when supported on said pins.

4. An artists color box and easel, comprising a. box frame; a supporting leg pivotally connected with said frame to extend behind the same; two side legs, each having an attaching screw adjacent the upper end thereof for securing said legs to the sides of said box frame, the attaching ends of said legs being beveled to flare said legs from the sides of said frame, said legs being constructed of a plurality of members slidable each on the other; clamps mounted on certain of said members to hold said members in adjusted position; a supporting mast removably mounted in vertical relation upon said frame; supporting pins adjustably mounted upon said side legs; a hook-like member name to this specification in the presence of shdnbie on said mast te engage the top of a two subserlbing Witnesses.

eanvas when supperteden said pins; and a LEON EMIL KUHRT plurality of strap sections mounted upon said frame, adapted to hold said be s and Witnesses: said mast upon said frame. ILLIAM H. POWELL, In testimony whereof I have signed my ROBERT VOSBURGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

